Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has inaugurated a
new PA construction project, despite the fact that it is located in
an area under full Israeli control, the PA-based WAFA news agency
reported on Monday.

According to a statement issued by Fayyad’s office, he inaugurated on
Monday stage one of a water dam to be built in “Palestine” at a cost
of over $1 million.

The statement quoted by WAFA said that during a visit to the village
of Ouja and the Jordan Valley, Fayyad inaugurated the Ouja Dam, which
he said is one of the projects to develop Area C, which falls under
full Israeli control.

“Our non-stop efforts to develop the area known as Area C and every
inch of our country aim mainly to benefit from our resources, mainly
our water resources,” Fayyad was quoted as having said.

He added that building the Ouja Dam is proof that “we will not be
deterred by unfair classifications and names.”

Fayyad also noted that he will not wait for Israeli permission to
allow him to develop the Jordan Valley. According to WAFA, he
stressed that “this is our land and it is our natural right to
develop this area and to serve our people living here.”

Fayyad said that the Jordan Valley is “part of the occupied
Palestinian territory and a vital part of the future independent
state of Palestine.”

According to WAFA, the Islamic Development Bank contributed $1
million toward developing stage one of the Ouja Dam and the
Palestinian Authority paid over $30,000 toward that end. Work will
now start on stage two of the project.

The report said that Fayyad also condemned the IDF for what he
claimed was its assault against Palestinian and international
activists who wanted to hold a bicycle tour of the Jordan Valley area
last week.

Fayyad claimed that Lt. Col. Shalom Eisner’s striking of an anarchist
provocateur who rioted and broke Eisner’s hand is “what happens to
the Palestinian people on daily basis,” according to WAFA.

Fayyad’s provocative actions and remarks came a day before his
meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.